Page 15 - National Poultry Newspaper

Business and responsible sourcing
AUSTRALIANS want to know if the businesses they engage with operate in ways that align with their values.
how important it is to re- flect these values, both to maintain community sup- port and remain viable.
Sourcing responsibly
across a range of species. As part of the RSPCA’s responsible sourcing guides, short and long-term goals applicable to the cur- rent Australian market and production are available for businesses to use when
versation with colleagues about developing formal animal welfare policy.
And, we know Aus- tralians care about farm animal welfare and want to support responsibly sourced animal-based products.
This informal but cru- cial public acceptance is known as having a ‘social licence’ to operate.
To responsibly source animal-based products, it’s vital that businesses have proactive relation- ships with their suppliers to enable them to go right back to the source and engage directly on animal management practices.
planning next steps.
Most importantly, busi-
Suggestions such as switching to higher wel- fare alternatives – RSPCA Approved products – in office kitchen supplies and event or company ca- tering are easy ways to start sourcing responsibly.
Despite disruptions to the industry’s supply chain, egg producers advise there are plenty of eggs for Australian consumers. Photo: Morgane Perraud
Egg shortage
We’ve seen this in the uptake of cage-free eggs in response to awareness about layer hen welfare and an opposition to bar- ren battery cages.
For animal-based indus- tries and businesses that source from them, it’s be- coming more important to consider and improve animal welfare in order to maintain their social licence.
From this position, busi- nesses are well placed to thoroughly review their supply chains to under- stand any current animal welfare issues and how these can be addressed.
nesses that are responsibly sourcing animal-based products should publish a public-facing animal wel- fare policy.
If you’re an individual who cares about animal welfare, you can also ask companies that you pur- chase from about their supply chains.
IS there or is there not a shortage of eggs in Australia currently?
feeling this as much as other food producers, with the price of feed, power and transport up significantly in a short period.”
One thing is for certain – Australians understand that animals are farmed for food, but they also believe farm animals de- serve a good life and a humane death.
In response, many have made the shift to better practices – such as com- panies across Australia who have or are transi- tioning to cage-free eggs.
The RSPCA has devel- oped responsible sourcing guides for key species, which provide businesses with a step-by-step pro- cess for exactly this.
The policy should clear- ly identify who is respon- sible for animal welfare within the company, ar- ticulate how the policy is governed and, based on the outcome of the sup- ply chain analysis, outline goals for improving ani- mal welfare.
If they don’t have a clear animal welfare policy, sharing the RSPCA’s re- sponsible sourcing guides with them not only pro- vides them with clear in- formation to better their business for animals but sends a strong message that animal welfare is im- portant to their customers – and therefore should be important to them.
From media reports and consumer imagery, there is.
“This can be disrup- tive as they need to move their egg supply to products, segments and customers that are able to cover as much of this increase as pos- sible.
Their expectation is that good businesses believe this too.
The good news is that there is a great deal in- dividual businesses can do to source responsibly and maintain their social licence with welfare-con- scious consumers.
Once a business has a good understanding of its supply chain, it will be better able to set meaning- ful and achievable goals to improve animal welfare
The RSPCA’s guide on developing an animal wel- fare policy is a three-page document that every busi- ness employee working on improving animal welfare across the supply chain should have at hand.
Despite disruptions to the industry’s supply chain, egg producers advise there are plenty of eggs for Australian consumers.
Forward-thinking busi- nesses are recognising
Australian Eggs man- aging director Rowan McMonnies said there was no cause for alarm, in response to consum- er concern and photos of empty supermarket shelves on social me- dia.
“However, consumers can have confidence that if eggs can’t be found at one store, they will be at another,” Mr McMonnies said.
To responsibly source animal-based products, it’s vital businesses have proac- tive relationships with suppliers.
Consider sharing the RSPCA’s responsible sourcing guides with your business procurement team or starting the con-
“Egg farmers are
www.poultrynews.com.au
National Poultry Newspaper, July 2022 – Page 15
Not part of the procure- ment process but wanting to help source responsibly?
You can use them as a tool to ask informed ques- tions of your favourite companies and brands.
A spokesperson for Woolworths said: “The market-wide supply of locally produced eggs has recently been im- pacted by reduced pro- duction on a number of farms.”
You can still help to encourage businesses to source responsibly, even if you’re not part of the procurement process.
No matter our role in the supply chain, we can all play a part in ensur- ing that businesses source animal-based products re- sponsibly.
“An empty shelf can be a dramatic image but next to the thou- sands of other full ones, it’s a lot less concern- ing,” Mr McMonnies said.
As an example, you might be looking to en- sure your workplace is do- ing their part to incorpo- rate animal welfare stand- ards in their operations.
With the right tools, businesses can improve operations and enhance their social standing, consumers can make in- formed choices from com- panies they trust – both contributing to the shared goal of a good quality of life for animals.
With some disrup- tion to the egg indus- try’s supply chain due to economic pressure, there was no imbalance between supply and de- mand.
A Coles representa- tive said their particular supermarket was expe- riencing a temporarily reduced availability in its egg range due to production challenges and was working hard to restock as quickly as possible.
Lastly, the guides are for consumers too!
Though farmers ad- vise there isn’t.